Since leaving the Old Bahama Bay Marina at West End on Grand Bahama Island, we have been exploring the Abacos.

Our first day out, we transited the Little Bahama Bank, passing just north of Mangrove Cay to anchor in Northwest Harbor at Great Sale Cay (a run of 47 nautical miles) The entire day we cruised across unbelievably clear waters without seeing another vessel. When we got to Great Sale Cay, there were two other cruising boats already anchored but there was plenty of room for each of us to find just the right spot with good holding and clear water beneath us.

After spending one night at Great Sale Cay, we elected to proceed northeast to Double Breasted Cay. We had read in the various cruising guides that this was indeed a special spot worth the slight detour north of our originally planned route. Entering Double Breasted Cay requires weaving through a very narrow passage as you wind your way around a series of coral heads and sand bars. Although Navionics has taken some heat in the past for the accuracy of their charting data in the Bahamas, it is my opinion that they have made great strides to address the issue with their current generation “freshest data” package. We found the information on our Raymarine E127 chart plotter regarding Double Breasted Cay to be precise all the way in and it was indeed helpful although the area clearly demonstrates why a mariner needs to be able to read the water visually while cruising in the Bahamas.

Once securely anchored, the boys set out on their first snorkeling trip at Double Breasted Cay; they swam from the back of the Pilots’ Discretion over to Sand Key where they saw all kinds of marine life. It was here that they saw their first Bahamian shark, a 4 foot black tip. In addition they got a good look at a barracuda as he swam under our boat. We enjoyed Double Breasted Cay so much that we elected to spend two nights there before heading south down the Sea of Abaco for Green Turtle Cay. The run to Green Turtle Cay was just over 60 miles and since we ran a portion of the trip at 25 knots , we were pulling into White Sound in the early afternoon.

October is the slowest time of year in the Bahamas and as a result, many of the resorts and marinas are closed. We are staying at the Green Turtle Cay Club, a beautiful resort in White Sound. The docks are open but the restaurant and bar as well as most of the resort facilities are closed. That said, the staff that is here ( they have a maintenance staff doing facilities upgrades) has been super helpful. I had been here ten years or so ago by air and it is clear to me that they have done a great job of upgrading this great facility over the years.

Maptech Raster Chart Entering Double Breasted Cay

Radar Return Approaching Great Sale Cay (Grand Bahama Island on the Right)

Navionics Vectar Chart Entering Double Breasted Cay

Snorkling, Double Breasted Cay